TCM diplomacy? Indians take to acupuncture, cupping therapy amid strained ties with China
- TCM techniques and Chinese herbal medicines increasingly used to treat various ailments, Indian medical professionals say
- As TCM grows in popularity among Indians, experts call for regulatory control to ensure patients receive correct treatment
“I lost all hope of standing on my feet but my condition improved drastically,” Kaur told This Week In Asia. “It’s nothing short of a miracle.”
Indian medical and para medical practitioners say TCM techniques – including acupuncture, cupping therapy, moxibustion – and Chinese herbal medicines have been increasingly used to treat ailments such as orthopaedic pain, infertility, diabetes, cancer, psychosomatic disorder and drug addiction.
“TCM works where modern medicine fails,” Mumbai-based TCM practitioner Jasmine Modi said. “Earlier, patients complaining of arthritis, diabetes and asthma consulted me but now people want to be treated by TCM even for their minor headaches, coughs and colds.”
Indian e-commerce platforms and apps have also embraced the trend, selling Chinese herbal medicines and offering cupping therapy for home services. Several private institutes and international experts have been offering acupuncture courses in India as well.
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